2010 BMW 6 Series Review

Specifications

The 2010 BMW 6 Series is the car you buy when you want to tell the world, “I’ve arrived.” Not in a literal sense since you’d be driving. Instead, the car offers the chance to show everyone you’ve achieved a pinnacle of success because you’re surrounded in luxury as you drive.

The 6 Series’ exterior is an eye-grabber with classy design. With a long, low snout and choice of colors in shades of silver or gray, any driver can’t help but make a big entrance. With the 19-inch wheels that are part of the optional Sport package, you’ll really stand out in the crowd.

If you’re looking for a real sports car, the 650i may not be for you. Not that its powerful V8 can’t do the job. The 4.8-liter engine produces 360 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 360 pound-feet of torque at 3,400 rpm. For most people, that’s enough.

This BMW is more of a high-end cruiser since some people will tell you it handles more like a GT. Even Kelly Blue Book says, “If the exhilarating rush of a big V8-powered coupe that handles with the confidence of a world-class GT car sets your sporting senses tingling, you’ll love the 650i Coupe.” Whether you get the coupe or the convertible version, practicality and performance come in a close second.

This BMW ships with a standard six-speed manual transmission. For the coupe, the rating is 15 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The convertible gets 1 mpg less in each category. Also, a sport automatic with shift paddles is available at no extra charge. In this case, each version gets 15 mpg in the city and 13 mpg on the highway.

The manual transmission comes with Dynamic Stability Control system. What that means is it adjusts the brakes and throttle automatically when sensors detect skids. There are also different brake functions. Brake Standby engages when the driver suddenly steps off the accelerator in anticipation of hard braking, causing the brake pads to be snug against the rotors. Start-Off Assistant automatically triggers on an incline to keep the 650i from rolling back when the driver lifts his or her foot from the brake pedal to hit the accelerator.

Both the coupe and convertible versions claim tops speeds of 150 mph. They’re close in acceleration from 0 to 60 mph, with the coupe taking 5.3 seconds and the convertible needing 0.3 second more to cover the distance.

In the 2010 BMW 6 Series’ passenger compartment, the finish is striking. With comfortable front seats and tight quarters in the back, it’s readily apparent this is a driver’s car. A revamped iDrive multimedia system features an on-screen menu whose layout is more intuitive than previous models.

How much does luxury cost? The coupe has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $78,200 while the MSRP for the convertible is more at $85,300. But since you’ve arrived, money should be no object.